Project Coordinator (NOD) TA - UNCDF Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Open to Tier 1 , Tier 2 and Tier 3 Applicants)

Description for Internal Candidates              

Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates).

Tier 2: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA) and personnel on regular PSA contracts.

Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates.

Background

General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI) decided to “bring into operations the United Nations Capital Development Fund as an organ of the General Assembly which shall function as an autonomous organization of the United Nations. The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) assists developing countries, especially least developing countries, in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants, loans, and guarantees. UNCDFs vision is to help mobilize and catalyze an increase of capital flows for SDG impactful investments to Member States to address the most pressing development challenges facing vulnerable communities in these countries and thereby contribute to sustainable economic growth and equitable prosperity.

UNCDF utilizes its unique capability in the UN system to deploy grants, loans and guarantees to crowd-in finance for the scaling of development impact. UNCDF focuses on where the needs are greatest, a deliberate focus and capability rooted in UNCDF’s unique investment mandate to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.

As per its Strategic Framework, UNCDF works to deploy its functions as a hybrid development organization and development finance institution. UNCDF responds to Member States requests for assistance by providing targeted technical and financial advisory services on investments for development outcomes, designing bespoke financial structuring solutions, undertaking financial derisking of investments, and enhancing investment readiness of SDG aligned projects in partnership with private sector, UNOs, International and Local Finance Institutions, Development Finance Institutions as well as Foundations and Philanthropy, among others. UNCDF works to develop local financial systems, new markets and mobilize and crowd in capital from public and private sources. UNCDF is driven by a partnership mindset which enables it to deploy its different capital capabilities in highly tailored and responsive ways in order to mobilize investments flows from other sources, in particular from the private sector.  By structuring transactions which are highly impactful but also recognize the need for multiplying the impact of its own capital, UNCDF seeks to position itself as a preferred partner for different stakeholders.  UNCDF’s work is focused on six priority areas, including:
 

• Sub-national and local infrastructure financing
• Women owned enterprise financing
• Nature and climate financing
• Energy and decarbonization finance
• Sustainable food systems financing
• Inclusive digital finance

Following a recent restructuring, UNCDF’s organizational set up includes an Investment and Implementation Division (IID), Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD), Operations and Oversight Division (OD) and a Directorate of the Executive Office. UNCDF staff and personnel are located in regional hubs based in Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand) with sub-regional presence in a number of locations in the Caribbean and Pacific Regions. UNCDF is led by an Executive Secretary based out of New York, USA. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2321(XXII, para 1.a), the Administrator of the UNDP performs the function of the Managing Director of UNCDF. UNCDF is overseen by the Executive Board of United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and performs the function of the Executive Board of UNCDF.

UNCDF has embarked on two strategic initiatives in Ethiopia: (i)  the FinWise Ethiopia: Last Mile Capital for Inclusive Growth in Ethiopia funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and  (II) DONE: Supporting financial service providers to use digital financial services to increase financial inclusion for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises,( MSMEs) in conflict-affected areas in northern Ethiopia funded by the EU delegation in Ethiopia.

The two projects aim at bridging the financing, capacity and technology gaps for MSMEs in the country. UNCDF's approach acknowledges the diverse needs within the MSME sector, tailoring solutions to empower different business segments:

• Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Ethiopia's fast-growing economy offers opportunities for entrepreneurs, but   many struggle to launch due to limited support and financing.  UNCDF tackles this by working with graduation programs run by development partners to usher successful businesses into sustainable financial relationships with local financial service providers. 
• High-Growth Technology Start-ups: The burgeoning tech startup scene in Ethiopia presents exciting possibilities for innovation and job creation. UNCDF supports service providers who help refine their ideas, develop business plans, and attract angel investors. Additionally, UNCDF works to crowd in international capital and expertise to start-ups looking for support to accelerate their scale. 
• Low-Growth Microenterprises: TUNCDF collaborates with innovative fintech companies to develop data-driven credit assessment models that can evaluate the creditworthiness of even the smallest businesses, traditionally overlooked by traditional lenders.

Low-Growth Small Businesses: UNCDF bridges the gap by collaborating with local commercial banks or other fund managers. This collaboration aims to streamline loan application processes and develop financial products specifically tailored to the needs and growth potential of small businesses.

In Ethiopia, the FinWise and Done initiative aims at unlocking financing for MSMEs and they are structured under four (4) key components:

• Component 1 Derisking Financing Facility – providing FSPs and other ecosystem actors with blended, derisking finance to better finance micro- and small businesses, technology start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs. 
• Component 2: Investment readiness support: Building Ecosystem actors’ capacity and deploying digital tools to support the investment readiness of micro- and small businesses, technology start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs.  
• Component 3: Financial Sector Development Support Building capacity of financial service providers and local fund manager, establishing partnerships and business rationale for financing micro- and small businesses, technology start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs. 
• Component 4: Knowledge & Advocacy for Responsible Financing: Increasing Policy makers’ capacity and access to information - to develop, implement and monitor policies and strategies that foster capital flows and financial health of micro- and small businesses, technology start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs

The programming aims to achieve the following outcomes:

• Public and private capital flows to micro- and small businesses, technology start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs are catalyzed (sector outcome) 
• Micro- and small businesses, technology start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs have the capacity, tools and capital to improve economic performance and resilience, with a specific focus on women-owned and women-led businesses (client outcome) 
• Financial Service Providers and other ecosystem actors scale gender-sensitive models to support and finance micro- and small businesses, technology start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs (stakeholder outcome) 
• Policies and strategies that enable capital flows and financial health of micro- and small businesses, technology start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs are adopted and implemented (stakeholder outcome) 

Position Purpose:

The Project Coordinator- at UNCDF will be responsible for the effective implementation, expansion, and oversight of the project activities of the FinWise Ethiopia: Last Mile Capital for Inclusive Growth in Ethiopia and (II) DONE: Supporting financial service providers to use digital financial services to increase financial inclusion for MSMEs in conflict-affected areas in northern Ethiopia.

This role will involve managing the two projects in alignment with the country's strategic goals and work plans, ensuring quality standards, and achieving targeted outcomes. The Project Coordinator will actively support the implementation of the two projects through UNCDF’s financial tools and grow the project portfolio focusing on segments like MSMEs and sectors such as fintech, ag-tech and climate-tech.

Key responsibilities include managing personnel, building strategic partnerships, advising government entities, and engaging with financial service providers. The Project Coordinator will support the resource mobilization, knowledge sharing, and communication efforts to sustain and expand UNCDF’s visibility and impact in Ethiopia.

UNCDF adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNCDF personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties And Responsibilities

1. 1. Ensure effective project management and portfolio management
2. 2. Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships, contribute to resource mobilization, and engage effectively with donors
3. 3. Provision of leadership and management of teams
4. 4. Facilitate knowledge management and result measurement

• Lead and manage projects’ milestones and outputs, tracking performance, and implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Provide strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing, and monitoring of the FinWise Project and Done Project in Ethiopia tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNCDF/ UNDP rules and regulations.
• Ensure that project documents (multi-year plan, annual plan, investment and procurement plans and reports) required for the proper functioning of the project are developed monitored and completed on time according to the required quality standards and updated. 
• Conduct timely project reviews, revisions and monitoring, and complete related reporting obligations, in accordance with UNDP /UNCDF policies, UN rules and regulations as well as applicable donors' requirements.
• Lead the development and expansion of a project pipeline that aligns with UNCDF’s mission, focusing on innovative projects for aspiring entrepreneurs, MSMEs, and tech startups in critical sectors such as fintech, agri-tech, and climate-tech. This includes leveraging UNCDF’s financial instruments—grants, loans, and guarantees and programmatic tools (LOAs, RPAs, Contracts for goods and services)—to support initiatives that drive economic growth and sustainable development.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with local and regional stakeholders, including government ministries, regulators, financial institutions, and development partners. This function is pivotal in supporting UNCDF’s resource mobilization efforts by cultivating relationships with funders at national, regional, and global levels, securing funding for both existing and new initiatives. 
• Creating a robust network of allies and funding sources to ensure the long-term sustainability and scaling of UNCDF’s interventions.
• Serves as an Advisor to government entities, regulators, and private sector stakeholders to promote policies and frameworks that foster effective engagement in Ethiopia. 
• Explore and identify new initiatives and partnerships to expand UNCDF's portfolio in MSME financing, ensuring the sustainability and growth of the FinWise and Done Projects. Additionally, the role involves engaging proactively with the UN Country Team to design and implement joint programs, where relevant, and participating in joint resource mobilization activities related to MSME financing.
• Establish close working relationships and create programmatic linkages with relevant government agencies, UN agencies, IFIs, bilateral and multilateral donors, the private sector, and civil society. Furthermore, the coordinator collaborates with the regional office team to position and advocate for goals and objectives central to UNCDF’s mandate. With support from the regional team, the coordinator originates and presents new concept notes and proposals to potential donors.
• Contributes to project governance by supporting Project Boards and ensuring that UNCDF’s initiatives meet quality and accountability standards.
• Lead and support a team of 8 personnel, with direct supervision of five staff members responsible for critical project implementation tasks.
• Fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment through regular feedback, professional development opportunities, and capacity-building initiatives to empower team members and ensure effective delivery of UNCDF’s objectives in Ethiopia.
• Manage consultants and coordinating with colleagues across different functional areas such as operations, finance, and technical teams, to meet project objectives.
• Oversee result measurement and knowledge management activities to document and share lessons learned, best practices, and insights from UNCDF’s projects in Ethiopia. 
• This includes supporting results measurement by working closely with the Performance Management Support Unit (PMSU) to track and evaluate project impact against established benchmarks and targets. 
• Coordinate with UNDP and other UN agencies to align efforts, promote synergies, and integrate UNCDF’s work within broader UN development frameworks, enhancing the collective impact of the UN’s presence in Ethiopia.
• Lead the identification and formulation lessons learned and recommendations to improve FinWise and Done Projects delivery and build on the thought leadership needs of the Project.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Lead and support a team of 8 personnel, with direct supervision of five staff members responsible for critical program implementation tasks. This function includes setting clear performance expectations, evaluating individual and team performance, and providing continuous mentorship and guidance.

Competencies
Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:

Business Management: Project Management    

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Direction and Strategy: Systems Thinking    

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management: Portfolio Management    

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management

Business Management: Partnership Management     

• Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Finance: Finance and Process Innovation    

• Financial and business process engineering expertise required to innovate, design, change and implement new financial business models, financial instruments, financing opportunities, business processes, policies and procedures, and technological solution

Finance: Development Finance Expertise    

• Ability to develop and work with innovative financing mechanisms and instruments, e.g. social/development impact bonds, guarantees, climate finance, etc.

Digital and Innovation: Digital inclusion     

• Knowledge of how digital inclusion works, opportunities and challenges for governments and society  

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Qualification:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Development Studies, Management, or related discipline is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience, Knowledge, And Skills:

• Minimum of seven (7) years (with master’s degree) or nine (9) years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in designing, coordinating and implementing development / projects from strategic conceptual level to detailed implementation level focusing on access to finance, agriculture finance, digital finance, digital innovation, MSMEs finance for low-income segments is required. 
• At least five (5) years focused on access to finance and digital financial services in Ethiopia is required.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, and support a diverse team, including direct supervision of core team members, to ensure effective project implementation and high performance is required.
• Experience working with international donor organizations around the topics of MSME Finance, business development support is an advantage. 
• Extensive experience working with governmental entities and regulators in Ethiopia, coupled with a deep understanding of government stakeholders is desired.
• Experience in managing donors’ relations is desired.
• Proven track record of strategic resource mobilization for programme targeting low-income populations is desired. 
• Proven track record and knowledge of UNDP and UNCDF financial rules and regulations is desired. 
• Proven experience in the coordination and submission of project documents (prodocs), multi-annual workplans (MAWPs) and annual workplans (AWPs) and demonstrated familiarity on the usage of programmatic tools including performance-based payment agreement (PBPA), letters of agreement (LOAs), responsible party agreement, (RPAs), Contract for goods and services loans, guarantees and grant agreements.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Fluency in Amharic is required.

Equal Opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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